It's a fact that makes New Mexico State's 3.95 earned run average in 2018 that much more impressive. And it traveled to Mesa, Arizona, where the Aggies starting pitcher allowed one earned run in 33 innings to win the Western Athletic Conference Tournament and into the NCAA Regional round for the first time since 2012.

"It was our expectation to pitch under a 4 (ERA) this year, which is tough to do in this ballpark," said Aggies junior right handed pitcher Kyle Bradish, who is 9-3 after two starts in the WAC Tournament. "But with the guys we have and the talent, we knew it was possible."

The NMSU pitching staff set team records this season for strikeouts (519) and a WAC Tournament ERA (.03). Senior left-hander Jonathan Groff will likely start against Texas Tech in Friday's NCAA Regional game in Lubbock, Texas after setting the school record with 11 victories and was named a Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American and WAC Pitcher of the Year. Bradish set the record for most strikeouts for a season with 131 and reliever Brock Whittlesey's 12 saves was a school record for a season.

"The camaraderie we have and the coaching staff, you can just sense how great it was for the program and the alumni here," said Whittlesey, who is in his first year at NMSU after transferring from Gateway Community College in Arizona. "We have one of the best pitching staffs we could have."

Bradish and Groff are each MLB Draft prospects next week, but first they will look for NMSU's second NCAA Regional win and first since 2002.

"After the last two years when we were a No. 1 and No. 2 seed (in the WAC Tournament) with early exits, it made this year even more special," Bradish said. "There are a lot of guys from last year's team on the team and we just thought we would go in last year as the No. 1 seed and roll through it. It stung and we knew we didn't want that again this year."

Kyle Bradish(Photo11: NMSU)

Bradish and Groff each took a step forward this season under first-year pitching coach Anthony Claggett, a former professional pitcher.

"I knew that they could hit so if we could just pitch a little bit and keep us in ballgames, this could be really special," Claggett said. "That the philosophy to minimize the damage and the offense would come on board. Our pitchers eventually realized that we can win games by pitching too and that is kind of what happened in the WAC Tournament."

Claggett helped Groff develop a changeup that developed into a "Plus-plus pitch for him."

"As a first-year pitching coach, I looked at what pitches they had but I also knew that you have to develop fastball command and you have to develop a changeup," Claggett said. "Right from the fall, we kind of worked to develop that. (Groff) got a feel for it right away. He made a little grip change in the middle of the year that made it even better. I give the guys credit because they all bought into it."

His experience in major league baseball has served him well in reaching young players.

"I try to talk to them in a professional manner because I've been there," Claggett said. "I want to teach them the stuff that will get them ready to play pro ball. I try to coach and them that way and think they have responded to that."

Green had never met Claggett prior to last summer, although they each spent time at Riverside City College early in their careers.

Claggett had lofty goals, which stood out to Aggies head coach Brian Green. After one season, the Aggies clearly met those expectations.

"He (Claggett) said that we were going to pitch under a 3 ERA and I told him that he had never been to Las Cruces but he came with that kind of confidence and those kinds of goals and we pitched under a 4," Green said. "He has brought a great friend for me personally. We hit it off and what he has done for our pitchers mentally has been the difference."

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

NCAA Lubbock Regional schedule

Friday

No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 New Mexico State, Noon

No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Kent State, 5 p.m.

Saturday

Elimination game, 1 p.m.

Second round game, 6 p.m.

Sunday

Elimination game, 1 p.m.

Championship game, 5 p.m.

Monday

If necessary game, 5 p.m.

All games available online on WatchESPN and on the radio on 91.5 KRUX-FM.